Residence Visa Belgium

Residence Visa Belgium | Buy Passport from GCI. We are the world's leading experts in advising foreign investors on Citizenship & Residency by Investment. Learn more about Belgian Residence Visa.

As Belgium is one of the founding members of the European Union with a sound financial and legal climate, Belgian nationals are generally welcomed all over the world. Belgian citizenship gives you the right of establishment in all EU member states as well as in Switzerland.

Belgium does not offer citizenship by investment program like other countries, but residency by investment available for investors and business entrepreneurs.

Depending on your individual circumstances, citizenship may be obtained after five years of legal residence in Belgium. This is your legal right, by means of declaration, if fulfilling certain criteria. After 10 years of legal residence, a resident acquires the same right to become a Belgian citizen with even less conditions to comply with. Family reunion procedures are relatively straightforward.

Benefits and advantages

- Visa free travel to other EU countries.
- Belgium is French speaking European schengen country
- No limitations on minimum stay a year.
- Belgium citizenship can be after 5 years.
- No restrictions on dual citizenship (eg Pakistan).

Belgium has no restrictions on dual citizenship. If you are a Pakistan national, then Pakistan has special provisions with Belgium, so that if receive Belgian passport, you dont lose Pakistan nationality. Please see our dual citizenship article on which countries Pakistan allows dual citizenship with. Belgium program is only suited to entrepreneurs and business investors who want to start a european company. It works through business formation route or company formation and creating jobs.

Belgium Residence Program

We offer a Residence program in Belgium package for foreigners and non-EU citizens to get residence permit in Belgium. Foreigners and non-EU persons can apply for residence permit under investor or business category, which usually involves in either investing in a belgium company or forming a new belgium company with a office, and as an employee of the company, you can easily qualify for the belgium residence permit. It usually takes 3-8 months to get the residence permit issued to investors who form their company. You will need to renew the residence permit annually for 3 years and after which you will qualify for `permanent residence permit.

You will qualify for `citizenship` by right in Belgium after 7 years of residence. With residence permit issued by Belgium, you can travel to EU countries without visa and allowed to stay maximum 90 days in every 6 month period in EU schengen countries. It usually takes 5 yrs to receive citizenship and passport from Belgian authorities. Usually a citizenship application is submitted after 3 yrs of stay in Belgium but it usually takes 5 yrs to recieve Belgian passport because of lengthy processing times. The client is required to pass the language requirement of either French, German or Dutch when applying for citizenship. Belgian passport grants full EU citizenship which means you can live and work anywhere in Europe.

Fees and charges

Most costs of Belgium are the lawyer & processing fees as well as rental of an apartment, office, social contributions etc. Belgium is a case by case solution and can vary in terms of pricing. Average until citizenship stage is reached is EUR 350k - 500k. Payments are done in steps, however, the first year can easily cost you up to EUR 150,000. We therefore, ask our clients to have atleast EUR 300,000 at their disposal to start Belgium program.

Services provided

To establish yourself or your business in Belgium will require securing relationships with key partners such as government officials, bankers and corporate professionals. You need experienced consultants to build a network of contacts and help you to become established in your new environment.

If you or your business need to purchase a property (a real estate or a commercial property) – we will be of help too. Our Partners are in property business for decades and are experienced enough to guide you through the whole property purchase procedure from the property documents check up, preparing the documents necessary to finalize transaction, certifying the purchase with the Court and filing of your title with the Cadastre.

As you see, we are here to provide the following business services in Belgium: corporate services, starting a business, incorporating a business with full legal and professional support, obtaining a temporary or permanent residence, getting a work permit, accounting, bookkeeping, translations, interpreters.

We also offer assistance with real estate purchase in Belgium including property documents verification, legal guidance and support during the property purchase procedure, assistance with the confirmation of the purchase by the State Court and recording property ownership in the Cadastre.

Visa free travel

As the country is within the EU and the Schengen zone, a Belgian residence permit allows citizens whose passport normally requires a visa to enter this zone to travel anywhere within it without the need for a visa. Once citizenship has been granted, a Belgian passport will allow visa-free travel to 170 number of countries, including the United States. Indeed, a Belgium passport is one of the best travel documents in the world.

Personal taxation

Another important aspect when considering becoming a resident in Belgium is the tax implications this may have for you. As a resident of Belgium, your income is taxable on the basis of Belgian law. We offer the BVBA and SPRL, the most popular company types in Belgium. The Belgian BVBA company works just like Limited Liability Company, and theshare capital must be at least EUR 18,600. Taxes is actually around 30% and annual returns are filed every 12 months in accordance with Belgian regulations. With proper tax planning you can substantially minimize the tax liability.

Any more questions about the Belgian Residence Program? Please get in contact with us.